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NASB | Luke 18:11 "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 18:11 "The Pharisee stood [ostentatiously] and began praying to himself [in a self-righteous way, saying]: 'God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men--swindlers, unjust (dishonest), adulterers--or even like this tax collector. |
Subject: Would this be biblically accurate? |
Bible Note: Hank, I find your scripture unit quite apt here, insofar as I believe that human character judgments typically fall far short, of how we should view people spiritually, through the eyes of God. Matthew 7 1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. (NAS95) - As far as man's natural tendency being predisposed to sin, I would have to agree with you, if we are strictly referring to the sin nature, as opposed to humanity's inherent design, as authored by the Holy Spirit. I was, however, referring to God's perfect design for humanity. Psalms 51 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. (NAS95) - It may seem a contradiction of terms that I'm presenting here, but I view the sin "nature" as being quite "unnatural". At least in contrast to God's perfect inherent design, which is written deeper than the very DNA of every human being. Genesis 1 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (NAS95) - We are created in God's perfect image. Should we better understand this reality, we would become cleansed of our consciousness of sins, so that we may begin to live in spiritual freedom. Hebrews 10 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? (NAS95) The Law of Moses serves to justly educate our carnal conscience, by imparting a consciousness of sins. This sin consciousness likewise imparts death, via the burden of guilt and fear that it inherently carries. We become aware of our sin nature, wherein we lack any true desire or capacity of repentance, within our carnal state of consciousness. With this Law knowledge, we then also become aware of the judgment which imminently awaits. Conversely, the Gospel of Christ serves to cleanse us not only of sin, but also enlightens us regarding our inherent divine image, cleverly fashioned by the Holy Spirit of God. This new spiritual awareness, concerning our divine identity as children of God, thereby frees us not only from our own sins, but also from the consciousness thereof, which otherwise imparts only death. - Blessings, Reighnskye |